Rating: 
Summary: Great read.
Review: A great read - gripping, well-written, and tightly constructed. I'm not much of a reader of American Westerns, but I found The Revenant to be an interesting mix that is not easily placed in any obvious genre - it is part historical fiction but also part Undaunted Courage, part Into Thin Air. In some ways, it reminded me of survival stories that I loved as a kid (e.g., Island of the Blue Dolphins), and it is a fast-paced, entertaining read. In other ways, however, it is a very intelligent, nuanced examination of human nature - never heavy-handed and surprisingly moving. I also highly recommend it as a gift for those readers who profess never to read novels because they are "too boring": the story includes great historical detail about, among other things, the fur trade, Mountain Men, outdoor survival skills, and the incredible natural terrain of the West.
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting Historical Adventure
Review: Author Punke does an excellent job of presenting the true story of Hugh Glass, a scout for a trapping party exploring the Missouri River area in 1823. During this expedition, he was horribly mauled by a bear but managed to survive even though severely wounded. Unfortunately, the two men assigned to wait with him until he either got better or died, deserted him with no weapons or tools. The remainder of the book tells of Hugh's story of survival and revenge.Excellently written with vivid characters, the story demonstrates again just how unforgiving nature can be but how one man can survive even against huge odds. I would definitely recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: And You Thought You Were Having A Bad Day
Review: Author Punke does an excellent job of presenting the true story of Hugh Glass, a scout for a trapping party exploring the Missouri River area in 1823. During this expedition, he was horribly mauled by a bear but managed to survive even though severely wounded. Unfortunately, the two men assigned to wait with him until he either got better or died, deserted him with no weapons or tools. The remainder of the book tells of Hugh's story of survival and revenge. Excellently written with vivid characters, the story demonstrates again just how unforgiving nature can be but how one man can survive even against huge odds. I would definitely recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Put This Book Down
Review: From the opening chapter, setting the tone for the entire work, to the end at which you find yourself pondering your own sense of justice, The Revanant flows like a sparkling river. It is a great read, and is filled with dramatic and well-described moments that will stay with you for a long time. As unbelievable as it sounds, the basic tale of this mountainman's maiming by a grizzly bear and his abandonment by his comrades, and his survival, is true. The author's imagination adds details and color that are truly remarkable and compelling. For example, the scene where the Indians who find Glass are cleaning his infected and infested wounds is full of realistic details, and helps to illustrate what Glass has gone through. The other scene that I won't forget is the snowy camp where Glass arrives to take revenge on one of the comrades who regretfully left him to die after the attack. Punke also has a great style which weaves the past with the present to keep the story flowing while giving important background information that helps explain the impetus behind all the characters' actions. These are rich characters, too -- characters who epitomize the developing West. There are lawless men, leaders, and followers. There are men of justice and those who are seeking justice beyond the courts of Men. It is a story that could only come from a author from the West, as Punke is (born and raised on the Platte River in Wyoming according to the book cover). You can feel his love for the land, for the danger, for the adventure, and his appreciation for the men who journeyed through this area of the country 175 years ago, blazing the way for others, and discovering truths about themselves and about America. The chapters are short, making the book hard to put down. You will find yourself wanting to read it aloud, too, because of the richness of the language and the detail that Punke includes. If you are like me, you will also be thinking about how this would look on the big screen. As I understand Punke has already sold the movie rights, it's only a matter of time before this story finds its way to theaters. It is perfect for a movie -- big moments, big characters, big scenery, and big themes. I look forward to Punke's future works. If this is his first book, you have to expect big things from him.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: From the time I started this book I had to keep reading. I felt like one of the characters along for the adventure. Michael kept my interests peaked by painting very vivid mind pictures from start to end. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: Three thums up!
Review: I enjoyed the blend of historical perspective and story-line this book has to offer. This book is very well researched, and where facts are missing, the author very generously tells us so. That helps to appreciate the accuracy of the facts. I have recommended this book to my Book Club, because there are so many "discussable" things in it; including, survival, humanity, lessons-learned, and more. And that doesn't even include the wonderful historical interest of the days of the fur traders and mountain men, just following the Lewis & Clark expidition. Many of our cities and family fortunes can trace their beginnings back to the fur trading business, so this is an important part of our history.
Rating: 
Summary: Good - not great - needs depth
Review: I enjoyed this novel - it is a good day read! Lacks depth -
Rating:
Summary: Skillful Storytelling
Review: I literally could not put it down. What a great read! I am so thrilled to have come across this well-written adventure after being skunked several times this summer by predictable and boring crap churned out by best-selling authors. Bravo to Mr. Punke and the publisher that took a chance on a first-time author.
Rating:
Summary: Punke delivers!!
Review: Rarely do I finish a book and immediately want to read it again. This, however, was the case with The Revenant. It is a novel of revenge yet includes so much more. The usual predictablity of this genre was lost on Punke as he relives life in the early mountain west. The story is vivid and captivating; written in such a way that you feel personally involoved. Furhtermore, the ending will leave you pondering your own resolve...
Truly a great read and a debut that suggests great things for Punke's future as a writer.
Rating:
Summary: Calms the Spirit; Spurs the Imagination
Review: Reading stories about the American West, especially in the early 19th century when frontiersmen travelled into the largely unexplored wilderness of the Rocky Mountains, has a way of calming the spirit while spurring the imagination. This is especially true for stories written by skillful wordsmiths who weave fact and fiction with threads of adventure and human emotion. From the talented Michael Punke comes such a story. Mountain man Hugh Glass, scouting for the Rocky Mountain Fur Co. is attacked by a grizzly bear and left with two men while he either heals or dies. Instead, they choose to leave him, expecting he can't recover from the savage attack. They take his gun and knife and away they go, convinced it is the last they'll see or hear of Hugh Glass. WRONG! THE REVENANT is subtitled A Novel of Revenge. Certainly revenge is the powerful motive driving Glass to overcome unimaginable pain endured in an unforgiving environment so he can catch up to the men and mete out his own form of justice. However, it is also a story of survival and enlightenment. The encounters Glass has with a wide and varied cast of colorful characters throughout his journey drives the story and measures change and personal growth. When he meets his antagonists in a surprising climax, the reader has had time to reflect upon what s/he would do in a similar situation. THE REVENANT is a powerful adventure and is fertile ground for empathic imagination. It is an excellent story, well-written and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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